Laburnum
was an absolute favourite in the Victorian garden, partly
because of its splendid golden flowers, and partly because
it was capable of surviving (even thriving) in the poor
soils of the smoky, sooty polluted cities of Victorian
Britain. It could be found in most squares and parks,
but also in 'dirty holes and corners that seem to be
utterly unfit for any kind of tree-life'. In well-furbished
country gardens the laburnum could rival any other tree.
There
were several varieties of laburnum available to the
Victorian gardener: the Scottish Cytisus Alpinum,
the C. Adami (or Laburnum Adami) which
tended to waver between purple and yellow flowers, the
popular L. pendulum, the sweet-scented L.
odora, and the white-flowered L. flore albo.
Hibberd
warned that the laburnum should never be grown near
children's playing areas, nor overhanging fields, as
the plant's seed could prove deadly to both children
and cattle.
